BLAINE, Minn. – The Bethel University women's hockey team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second period and then held off a late Hamline rally to pull away with a 5-3 victory over the visiting Pipers. After a scoreless first period that saw just one penalty called the game took a drastic turn in the second and third periods as the two teams combined for eight goals in the second and third periods and 10 penalties in the third period alone, including four in a row on Bethel and six total. The win along with the results around the rest of the MIAC vaulted the Royals up into a tie for second place, just one point behind St. Thomas who lost to Saint Benedict.
After a scoreless first period which saw both teams generate good scoring chances but not finish, the Royals exploded for three second period goals in just over a seven minute span.
Briita Nelson scored the Royals first goal on a shot that deflected off the Piper goalie and found its way around the pipe and into the bottom corner of the net. Following a five-minute major boarding penalty on the Pipers Nelson scored another goal for Bethel, chipping in a rebound to make it 2-0 Royals midway through the period.
Lauren Kolak and
Natalie Simons assisted while
Wendy Roberts assisted on the first score. At 14:54
Hadley Cookson scored after being set up by
Erika Geary and
Sarina Goos to make it 3-0 Royals as they responded in a big way after the Piper penalty.
The third period was an eventful one with five goals scored, ten penalties and seven power plays between the two teams. The Royals were the first to get a power play just 2:50 in but were unable to score. After a pair of coincidental penalties for high sticking and holding the Royals would then be called for three straight penalties over a three-minute span. Hamline scored their first goal on the power play to make it 3-1 but in the few seconds in between Piper power plays, the Royals were able to score to make it 4-1.
Allie Fischer scored for the Royals from
Kirsten Olson. Hamline scored to make it 4-2 at 14:17 before they were able to add another power play goal at 16:50 to make it a 4-3 game. The penalties were still coming however as the Pipers were called for interference at 17:14 to give the Royals a power play but Bethel would draw the same call just 13 seconds in giving Hamline life again. The Pipers eventually pulled their goalie to give them a 6-4 advantage but
Natalie Simons was able to launch one in the empty net from the Royals defensive zone to seal the 5-3 victory for Bethel.
Hamline was able to score on two of their four power plays, all in the third period, generating nine shots on goal. Bethel was 1-for-6 on the power play.
Michelle Klimstra made 37 saves for the Royals as Hamline outshot Bethel 40-36.
The Royals and Pipers will face off Saturday night at 7 p.m. from Oscar Johnson Arena as Bethel will look to complete their second consecutive MIAC series sweep.
